Solo Tabletop RPG Review & Actual Play – Everspark Part Five

Read the previous chapter here

I think this is a good point in the story where my Spark of Qazid Icebreath’s Journey kicks in, which I have written up below.

N – Qazid Icebreath’s Journey
A – Make a Fate Check, advancing on unfavorable results or with failed Skill Checks.
C – Only from the second ray forward.
H – Jump to a scene of Qazid wreaking havoc on Slumbering Bay on his way to the Whispering Mountains
O – Qazid is intercepted by the Imperial Navy and appears to sink to the bottom of the sea
S – None
Qazid Icebreath’s Journey – 0/5

Fate Check roll: Has Qazid been spotted recently? The higher, the closer he is. Rolled 19.
Yes, and he has obliterated a trio of naval ships in the area.
Qazid Icebreath’s Journey – 1/5

Fate Check roll: Do Cypress and friends make it to Kingshold without any trouble? The higher, the safer the trip is. Rolled 16, no trouble while crossing Galendo Bay

What are things like when Cypress & friends arrive in Kingshold (Sigil Roll): Barrier

Lugal Apogee has apparently ordered a new wall to be built around Kingshold, a wall beyond the wall. The scorch marks across this stone explain why. The colossal beasts have been near.

Cypress asks Demis to tie up the boat at the shore. The Caypbarian and Hulde walk up a winding gravel path to the main road, where they get a better look at the new wall. There’s a gatehouse nearby, and so they walk over to speak about how to enter the city. 

City Guard: Ancestry: Gnome  |  Disposition: Curmudgeon

The female guard looks up from the piece of wood she’s whittling into the shape of a squirrel to glare at Cypress. Cypress smiles the best he can, but it is not a facial expression his people make that often. He introduces himself and his companion, Hulde. Hulde shares a sneer back at the guard. Cypress explains they are on a mission for the Adventurer’s Guild to stop Qazid Icebreath and need to speak with Lugal Apogee on a pressing matter. 

(I think Cypress will operate from a place of Leverage here. I previously established that his Ancestry is centered around peaceful conflict resolution whenever possible. Paired with being a strategist, Cypress is scanning the gatehouse and the guard to determine why they are in a bad mood and how to possibly resolve that. Whatever I roll will bump up to the next tier as a result)

Skill check: 9 (Bad) > (OK)
Complication: Expose Resource

Cypress notices a half-eaten rumapple sitting on a table behind the Gnomish guard. The strategist remarks that he knows of a fine establishment in the city center that makes the finest rumapples in the kingdom. His ‘friend’ here, the guard, must have bought one from a lesser vendor, a common mistake made in the early morning rush to work. Cypress offers to swing by the best rumapple place in the city and ensure this guard gets a good dozen of them. The guard’s face softens, and Cypress can see the hunger in his eyes. The guard agrees to let them in, but he better see those rumapples when they exit.

Cypress forces a smile and a thumbs up. Now he has to find a place that sells really good rumapples. 

Demis has caught up at this point, and three enter the fortified Kingshold, making a b-line to The Adventurer’s Guild to officially record their nabbing of the Nightveil Stone and see if the Guild’s chapter leader can lend their help in getting an audience with Lugal Apogee.

Cypress leads his team through the crowds of Kingshold into the Old Town district where The Adventurer’s Guildhall for this chapter is located. They pass by the grand old museums, opera halls, and other regal institutions on which Apogee has spent much of the public coffers. He hasn’t addressed the overpopulation of Kingshold, where many flocked to as the colossal beasts make the outside world perilous. Weapons and Luxury are all the things the Fae king seems to care about.

The address in Cypress’s Guild Handbook brings him to a wheelwright. He checks and re-checks the book, confused as the official headquarters in Rothport Falls is a grand hall dedicated to the Guild. Demis and Hulde hang outside as Cypress enters to see if the Guild rep is here. 

Working on a wagon wheel in the shop is a stocky Dwarf. He’s exceptionally well-groomed in a way that doesn’t seem practical for manual labor. Cypress clears his throat, and the dwarf serves around with a blinding white smile. “Firewhisper’s Wheel Shoppe. What can I do for you today, my hairy friend.”

Kingshold Adventurer’s Guild Chapter Head: Soren Firewhisper
Ancestry: Dwarven  |  Background: Soldier  |  Disposition: Pompous

Cypress introduces himself, receiving a rough, enthusiastic handshake from Soren. The Capybarian presents the Nightveil Stone to Soren and explains his need for an audience with Apogee. It becomes clear through Soren talking about what *he* will tell the king during the audience that the dwarf isn’t interested in helping Cypress’s cause but in inflating his ego. He reasons this might not be that bad as long as the ruler hears what is going on and can be persuaded to offer help. Cypress wants to ensure that he will be included in this meeting and asks Soren to clarify.

Quick Fate Check: 2, No. 

“Oh, you poor, naive river rat,” Soren says, chuckling and giving Cypress a backslap. “They wouldn’t let the likes of you in front of the Lugal. Nah, Soren will set things right. I can see it now: I’m given my rightful title of General, unlike back in the War. I’ll lead the armies of Eryndralis against this Icebreath creature. Oh, the parades! The wine! And the women!”

Cypress has had enough of this pompous ass. He notices the awards and painted portraits of Soren and decides to appeal to this dwarf’s vanity so he can swipe the Nightveil Stone back and find another way to Apogee.

Skill Check: 18, success.

Cypress’s paw slips across the table as Soren begins to rattle on about an award he won for best dental hygiene while serving in the Dwarven Corps of the Old War. Our hero quietly backs out of the wheelwright’s shop. Soren’s voice grows fainter the further away he gets. 

Cypress regroups with Demis and Hulde. He explains the encounter with the dwarf and how it doesn’t seem like they’ll be getting help from the Guild. Cypress wracks his brain to remember anything that might get them into the heavily guarded bunkered palace at the center of Kingshold.

Sigil Roll: Bond, Spirit

When the Fae first came to Eryndralis from their hidden realm, Apogee was not the person expected to lead them. That fell to Lazuli, the Fae Monarch. Apogee was her lover, a noble in the Summer Court. Lazuli became ill; the diseases of this realm were too much for her material form. She’s lived in seclusion in the Eastern Tower ever since, handing the reins of power over to her lover. Lazuli would undoubtedly be someone Apogee listened to, and her home is much less guarded than the palace. Cypress sits down with the schematics of the Eastern Tower and how to get inside. 

N – Petition Lazuli’s Help
A – On successful Skill checks
C – Only from the second ray forward.
H – Lazuli sends her messenger and gets Apogee to come to the tower
O – Lazuli sends her messenger, and Apogee has Cypress arrested
S – Hit will allow Cypress to roll with Advantage on this matter with Apogee|
Petition Lazuli’s Help – 0/5

What does Cypress know about Lazuli?
Sigil Check: Stone

Lazuli is an earthspeaker, a fae who can communicate with the bedrock of the land. The Nightveil Stone is an exotic piece of geology that is alleged to date back to the primal days of Eryndralis, or so Cypress’s books tell him. An offer to commune with the Stone may be what gets them inside. Cypress decides to give it a try.

Petition Lazuli’s Help – 1/5

Fate Check: 13, Yes

The guard at the front gates of the Eastern Tower sends word to Lazuli. Moments later, an attendant has come down to escort Cypress and friends to the Fae’s chamber. Inside, they find a being nearing the end of her life. The once bright faelight is faded now, still visible but dimmed. She beckons them forth and asks to see the stone. Lazuli closes her eyes, lips mumbling something. Cypress waits to see what she shares with them.

Sigil Check: Chaos

Lazuli’s eyes open with a start, and she utters the word “Chaos.”

Cypress nods. “Yes, Ms. Lazuli. There will be chaos if we don’t get this stone to the Whispering Mountains before the beasts gather there. Will you help us deliver this dire news to Lugal Apogee? We must raise an army to protect us and get the Nightveil Stone there as soon as possible.”

Skill Check: 7, Bad

Lazuli’s attendant steps in, thanking the trio for coming to give the Fae this stone. They will speak with Apogee and deal with the issue. Before Cypress can argue, he and his friends find themselves outside the gates, minus the Nightveil Stone.

Qazid Icebreath’s Journey – 2/5 – the delay allows the dread beast to get closer to the shoreline.

Read the next part of the story here